AN OUTSPOKEN ADVOCATE for health care and LGBTQ+ rights has announced his candidacy to run for District 8 Supervisor ahead of the November 2026 election.
Gary McCoy is running to replace Board President Rafael Mandelman, whose term will expire January 2027. Term limits prohibit supervisors from serving more than two consecutive terms.
McCoy currently works as the campaign manager for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi’s “Save Our Health Care” campaign that aims to fight back against federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare. He has also served as legislative aides for Scott Wiener and London Breed when they were on the Board of Supervisors.
“I know what it means to fight,” he said in a statement. “I’ve fought for health care, for housing, for working families, and for our LGBTQ community.”
McCoy has lived in District 8 for nearly 20 years, which includes the Castro, Glen Park, and Noe Valley neighborhoods. He also led both the Alice B. Toklas LGBTQ Democratic Club and the Harvey Milk Democratic Club in San Francisco.
But McCoy’s rise on the political ladder was preceded by years of drug addiction.
In San Francisco, he was living on the streets and dealing with an untreated AIDS diagnosis, according to a statement announcing his candidacy.
Now with 15 years sober, McCoy believes his lived experiences in substance abuse treatment, homelessness, and critical health care give him an edge to be able to better address these issues in San Francisco.
“I’ve lived the consequences of a system that fails people, and I’ve worked to change that system so others don’t have to endure the same struggles,” he said. “That’s the fight I want to take to City Hall for District 8.”
The top issues he wants to address include building housing for every income level, promoting public safety and reliable public transit, expanding treatment for mental health, and protecting workers through enforcing labor standards.
“I’ve lived the consequences of a system that fails people, and I’ve worked to change that system so others don’t have to endure the same struggles. That’s the fight I want to take to City Hall for District 8.”
Gary McCoy, campaign manager of Save Our Health Care campaign
So far, he’s received endorsements from Pelosi, Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Connie Chan, and Public Defender Mano Raju, among others.
“Gary McCoy is a testament to the power of recovery: his experience turning his life around has helped make him the incredible public servant and leader he is today,” Dorsey said in a statement. “Gary brings that perspective to public service, and it’s exactly the kind of leadership San Francisco needs right now.”
A campaign launch event will be held Saturday at 10 a.m in the Castro district.
McCoy is the second candidate to throw their hat in the ring for District 8 Supervisor. Manny Yekutiel has also recently announced his candidacy. Yekutiel owns a cafe that simultaneously serves as a civic gathering space.
District 8 is one of five supervisorial districts in San Francisco that is up for election in November 2026.